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Hospitalizations during infancy in three population-based studies in Southern Brazil: trends and differentials

Alicia Matijasevich1, Juraci A Cesar, Iná S Santos

  • 1Programa de Pós-graduação em Epidemiologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brasil. amatija@yahoo.com

Cadernos De Saude Publica
|September 18, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Infant hospitalization rates in Brazil remained constant, with a significant decrease in diarrhea-related admissions but no change overall. Poorer infants and those with low birth weight experienced higher hospitalization rates.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Childhood hospitalization is a key indicator of health system burden and population well-being.
  • Understanding trends in infant hospital admissions is crucial for targeted public health interventions.
  • Socioeconomic and biological factors significantly influence infant health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess hospitalization rates in the first year of life across three birth cohorts (1982, 1993, 2004) in Pelotas, Brazil.
  • To investigate associations between infant hospitalization and causes of admission (diarrhea vs. all other causes), sex, birth weight, and family income.
  • To identify trends and risk factors for infant hospitalization over three decades.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of three prospective cohort studies involving children born in Pelotas, Southern Brazil.
  • Data collection on hospitalization in the first year of life, cause of admission, sex, birth weight, and family income.
  • Statistical examination of hospitalization frequencies and their correlation with demographic and clinical factors.

Main Results:

  • Overall infant hospitalization frequency remained stable (19.6% in 1982, 18.1% in 1993, 19.2% in 2004).
  • A significant reduction in hospitalizations due to diarrhea was observed.
  • Infants from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and those with low birth weight (<2,000g) exhibited higher hospitalization rates for all causes and diarrhea, with a marked increase for all causes in the low birth weight group.

Conclusions:

  • While diarrhea-related infant hospitalizations decreased, overall rates remained constant, suggesting other factors contribute to the burden.
  • Low birth weight and lower family income are persistent risk factors for infant hospitalization.
  • The findings may be influenced by an observed epidemic of preterm births within the study population, warranting further investigation.

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